Book Review: Memoirs of a Lyrical Man

In 2014, Jay Hagaki's life as a famous actor and musician is filled with fame and fortune. But when a brush with death sends him back to 2007, the world of celebrity fades, replaced by a seemingly average life—until the danger and intrigue begin. Hunted by shadowy forces, Hagaki is sent on a wild ride, taking him deep into the unknown. Amidst the chaos, he's drawn to a woman who haunts his dreams, her connection to his life a tantalizing mystery.

While the present and the future tango in his brain, memories of a previous life resurface to join the dance. Do these memories hold the key to a cryptic puzzle that threatens to consume him?

Memoirs of a Lyrical Man by Steven Templar was published on November 15, 2023, by Mysterious Ink Publishing.

This is second book by the author which I have read. It is also his debut novel and the first book in his Tapestry of Time series. Regular followers of mine know I am all about a good time-travel tale.

The story itself starts with an engaging look into the ancient past before bouncing back into a modern period with intrigue and mystery. At the center of it is Hagaki. The reader will find themselves questioning who he is, what is going on, why is the narrative shifting around, etc. With short chapters, the book encourages page-turning consumption.

Hagaki knows how all of this plays out as he's telling the tale. Still, he keeps the reader off-balance and even slips in some parts from another character's viewpoints to fill in the story. It makes for a different kind of narrative structure that fits the whole "alternating timelines" aspect of the book. By the same token, he shows his confusion as events are unfolding, thus only revealing the secrets and twists as he experiences them.

And there are definitely secrets and twists. A lot, in fact. So much so, that even when this first book ends the reader is left with as many questions as answers. Good for an ongoing series. Had this been a standalone tale, it could have benefitted from another fifty or so pages. I am certainly going to give the second book a read to see if keeps my attention.